Breaking free!

The Lord says: 

"If you've been bound in a cycle of sin and sorrow, it's time to break free now! If you've been bound in a cycle of sickness and disease, be set free now! Whatever you've been bound and trapped in, I am releasing My anointing for you to walk free now!" 

The Lord says further: 

"For the time has come for you to walk into a brand new future and My promises for your future! Declare the yoke has been broken! Declare the bondage has been broken! Declare the 'cycle' has been broken! Curse-free! Sickness-free! Sorrow-free! My power is at hand!" 

Beloved of God, if you feel like "history is repeating itself" in your life, whether it is another round or 'cycle' of sorrow, failure, disappointment, or whatever bad memory from the past is "sticking out its ugly head" and repeating again in your life, this is your time to receive God's power to break free! 

Also, if you see like "history is repeating itself" in the areas of sin in that area or sickness, receive God's anointing to set you free right now! 

Or you simply have this feeling of "so near yet so far", God's power is at hand to break and destroy whatever the enemy is trying to hinder you from progressing in your life! 

The Scripture has the answer for you. 

In Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV), the Lord says: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn... To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." 

See the exchange taking place here? When you receive this power, this anointing of the Lord, your "ashes" is being exchanged with His beauty, your mourning is being exchanged with joy, and your heaviness, or whatever that burdens you, is being exchanged with praises of the Lord! Hallelujah! 

By the way, 'ashes' speaks of 'hopelessness'. When something turns into ashes, there's no way to restore it again or to make it whole again. That's how the world sees it and how the world thinks. But here, to God, even ashes can be restored into something beautiful again! Not only that, He is turning your mourning into joy! This joy doesn't come from anyone on earth. This joy comes directly from the Lord! And then your heaviness is being exchanged with garment of praise! You can begin to sing praises of the Lord like never before!

In Isaiah 61:4 (NKJV), the Lord says further: "And they shall rebuild the old ruins... and they shall repair the ruined cities..." 

The word 'repair' here is 'chadash' in Hebrew. It can simply mean 'to make new' or 'to be new'. In other words, everything has become new again! A brand new future! A brand new start! Looking forward to all of God's promises for you in a fresh new way! Looking forward with a new hope! Why? Because you have been set free from whatever that holds you back or entangles you in your past! 

A few verses later in Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV), the Lord says: "Instead of shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double." 

Beloved of God, whatever you have gone through in your life recently or so far, receive this promise of God for you! Past is past, be it your shame, your sorrow, your despair, or whatever that's undesirable that you've been bound in. All these have been carried by Jesus on the cross! And you know what? Now! Now is your time to walk in double honor! Now is your time to possess double! Now is your time to receive the joy of the Lord, and rejoice! Rejoice in all that God has promised you and shown you!

Let's look at the book of Jeremiah now, specifically Jeremiah 31:3-4. You see, Jeremiah was known as a heartbroken prophet with a heartbreaking message. He was lamenting about what's happening to God's people at that time. But in spite of all that, he still had a wonderful message of hope for those who believe. In Jeremiah 31:3-4, this is what he quoted the Lord saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt... You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice." 

Even though Jeremiah 31:3-4 here is speaking specifically for the people of Israel, this can apply right now in your life too. The Lord is telling you, beloved, that there's hope for restoration and renewal in your life, whatever your past may be! 

Maybe you have gone through a time of mourning or sorrow recently. Maybe you have encountered a very sticky situation in your life recently. Or maybe you seem to be like at a dead-end road right now. Whatever you've been facing, take heart, beloved. Because the Lord has a good news for you! He wants you to know that He has loved you with an everlasting love. He wants you to know that He has begun His work of restoring you and making all things new in your life. Amen! 

You know what? These are reasons enough for you to rejoice. The joy of knowing that God remembers you! The joy of knowing that God hasn't forgotten you! The joy of knowing that God loves you with His unfailing and everlasting love! The joy of knowing that God has a new hope and purpose for you, going forward! The joy of knowing that your time of restoration and renewal has come! Amen! Somebody shout Hallelujah! 

Prayer: 

"O Lord God, we thank You for Your message of hope and renewal today. We thank You for Your power and anointing to set us free! Free from curse! Free from bondage! Free from whatever that traps or ensnares us! We receive Your anointing right now by faith! We receive Your oil of joy right now! We receive Your crown of beauty right now in exchange of our ashes! Hope is rising! Joy has been released upon us! We receive it by faith. We give You praises, O Lord! We rejoice with this joy that comes directly from You! We walk free now! Free to be who and what You've always wanted us to be. In Jesus' name. Amen!"

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Sensing and hearing from God

The Lord says:

"This is a crucial time for My people to hear My voice. In fact, there are many secrets that I want to reveal to you in this time and season. Continue to live a life of holiness. Continue to live a life of submission. Continue to live a life of humility. Wash your hands. Wash your hearts. Let it be clean. Continue to stir up your spirit man. Don't let your spirit to slumber. Keep your spirit alert and ready for what's coming ahead and the glory days ahead!" 

Colossians 2:8 (NKJV) says, 'Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.'

Colossians 2:8 (Expanded) says, 'Be sure [Be careful; Watch; See] that no one leads you away [takes you captive] with false [deceptive] and empty [worthless] teaching that is only human [according to human traditions], which comes from the ruling spirits of this world, and not from Christ.'

It's for this reason in Colossians 2:8 that it's so important to be able to sense and hear correctly from the right spirit (i.e. the Holy Spirit), and not from other spirit or spirits of this world. 

In fact, some of these human philosophies or human traditions have even sometimes crept into the church, and contaminated or adulterated the church and what Christ has meant the church to be. 

Also, nowadays, there are so many 'predictions' or 'prophecies' being spoken around, that even some Christians are taking it without checking and sensing if these are really from the Holy Spirit, or if these are merely from the minds of men. So, that's why Paul wrote in Colossians 2:8 to be careful. Every prediction or every prophecy has to be tested. The Scripture says so. 

What are the keys to sensing and hearing in the spirit correctly? 

1. A life of humility, submission and surrender

There's no other way around it. Without humility, submission and surrender to God and God's Spirit, we cannot be effective in sensing and hearing from Him. 

2. A life of holiness

It is like a radio antenna that receives reception. If you clean it, the antenna can receive better and function better. If you remove any dirt, dust, or other contaminants that might interfere with the reception, the antenna can receive better and function better. It is the same with your spirit, if you want to receive more clearly from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to clear anything that hinders your walk with God. 

3. A life of worship

This simply means a life of surrender to God. Because to worship God is to surrender to God. Worship is not just in songs and singing. 

In Hebrew, the very word 'worship' is translated as 'shachah', which literally means 'to bow down, to kneel, to prostrate oneself (before God)'. So, worship, in the truest sense of the word, is about the heart. It is about a heart and a life of surrender and submission to God. It is about lowering ourselves and humbling ourselves before God. It is not so much about the outward performance or outward show, but 'shachah' or 'worship' is essentially lowering ourselves in our hearts before the Lord. 

One example of this word 'shachah' or 'worship' in the Scripture is found in Genesis 22:5. That's when Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac (his son) will 'shachah' on the mountain, which is translated as 'worship' on the mountain.

Let's move on to 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV) that says, 'Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.'

What are the things that have been freely given to us by God? One is His wisdom. Another is His revelation as to what you should do or what you should avoid, and even what's to come in the future!

Just a few verses before that, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV) says, 'But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.' In The Expanded Bible, it is translated as 'the deep secrets of God'. 

That leaves us with the next question. In what way does God reveal His deep things through His Spirit? The answer can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:13 (NASB) that says, 'We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.' 

See the words 'spiritual thoughts' and 'spiritual words' here? In other words, one way God can speak to you is by placing intelligible thoughts and words in your spirit. It means thoughts and words that can be readily understood by you. These thoughts and words are deeply imparted by the Holy Spirit inside of you, and these are not the product of one's own mind or one's own logic. Some Bible teachers call this 'the voice of the Holy Spirit'. It means the voice of the Holy Spirit spoken into your spirit. 

What are the general characteristics of the voice of the Holy Spirit? 

1. It comes as a spontaneous impartation, not premeditated by the hearer (Matthew 10:19-20)

2. It comes with specific commands or instructions (Acts 13:2)

3. It is distinctly divine, and the hearer knows it comes at the right timing when he/she needs it (Acts 10:19-20)

4. It is always aligned with the Word of God and the will of God, and not contradict it (Isaiah 55:8-11)

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A life of submission and surrender

The Lord says:

"Whatever situation you are facing at the moment, do not be wise in your own eyes and do not put your confidence in your own strength, but let Me take over. Let Me bring you from here. Let Me carry you through from here. For I am the Lord who cares for you. Do not allow yourself to hang on to the past, but let it go to Me. For I am beginning to do a new thing in your life. I will show you the necessary directions and instructions that you need. I will make the path straight for you. Humble yourself therefore, and live a life of submission and surrender."

Psalm 146:8 (NKJV) says, 'The Lord raises those who are bowed down.' 

The words 'bowed down' here is 'kaphaph' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'to stoop (lower down) humbly in emptiness (before God)'. In other words, emptying ourselves from pride, emptying ourselves from wrongful thought, and emptying ourselves from thinking that we know better. And for those who 'kaphaph', the Lord raises them! 

Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV) says, 'By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.' 

The word 'humility' here is 'anavah' in Hebrew. In the context of this verse, it can mean 'lowering oneself in meekness (before God)'. Here, lowering oneself isn't just an outward show for people to see. Instead, more importantly, it is first and foremost done inside of you or in your heart. So, it is not so much about bowing down or lowering down one's head, but rather, bowing down or lowering down one's heart before the Lord. 

James 4:6-7 (NKJV) says, 'But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, submit to God...' 

The word 'submit' here is 'hupotasso' in Greek. In the context of our study today, it can mean 'to subordinate oneself (to God), to be obedient (to God), to be subjected (to God)'. 

Don't get God wrong. He is not like a taskmaster. He doesn't look at us like a slave being bound. But when we allow ourselves to be subordinated to Him, to be obedient to Him, or to be subjected to Him, many evil or danger can be prevented. Why? Because He sees farther than us. He knows what are our pitfalls. He knows what are the 'landmines' or 'traps' ahead of us. So, when we humble ourselves before Him, we are effectively allowing ourselves to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit. 

The devil will always want to try to influence us, whether through humans or through thoughts, or even through human ideologies or human philosophies. And that's how people get influenced and swayed away. But when you are subjected to God, you will not be subjected to any of these influences. You will not be deceived. You will not be so easily taken advantage of by the devil. You see, the devil can use humans to do that. You will not be lured by how the devil thinks or how the devil wants you to think. 

That's why the Scripture says, 'Resist the devil, and the devil will flee from you.' (James 4:7) That's why the Lord is calling us to live a life of submission to Him. It is not to enslave us. It is to make the way straight for our future. 

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV) says, '"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.'

The word 'humble' here is 'tapeinoo' in Greek. It can mean 'to lower oneself', and in the context today, 'to lower oneself before God'. Again, you see 'to lower oneself before God' here, as we have explained earlier. It is a life of submission before God. It is a life of surrender before God. It is a life where you have the mindset of needing Him more than anything else or anyone else on earth. Now, that is the essence of what 'humility before God' is. It is about laying down your hearts before God, instead of being haughty and proud in your own eyes or in your own ways. 

And that's why Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' In other words, 'make smooth or make straight your paths'. 

You see, all the Bible verses that we've read today tie up together. And that's what the Lord wants to tell us in this message today. 

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV) says, 'When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.'

How do we receive wisdom from God? By humbling ourselves before God. How do we see our paths smooth and straight ahead of us? By humbling ourselves before God.

In 1 Peter 5:5-7 just now, notice that Peter didn't stop at saying, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble", but he continued by saying, "Casting all your care to Him, because He cares for you". 

To take things into your own hands instead of casting all your care to the Lord is like saying, "I can do it myself. I don't need God." But one aspect of humbling ourselves before God is to 'cast all our care to the Lord'. 

In life, there will always be things that we cannot fully comprehend or understand as to why certain things happened. But beloved of God, whatever has happened in and around you, or no matter what has happened, the Lord wants to assure you today that He knows what He is doing in your life, and He sees the end from the beginning. Your part is to let it go to the Lord, and live a life of submission and surrender before Him. There will come a day you will begin to understand the many things that you cannot understand now. So, the Lord is calling you to be patient. Yet, the Lord is saying to you He is still in control. The jigsaw puzzle will eventually be solved, so to speak. But one thing for sure is the Lord always and will always have your best interests in His mind. Amen! 

Click here for the full message in TiC YouTube Channel